The Promise of Portugal

The Portuguese Coast is one of the most energetic in the world, and is the first country to have a commercial-scale wave energy device in the water. Now, they're planning a "pilot zone" for expanding the technology.

1 minute read

July 13, 2009, 9:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


"All along the coast, waves are breaking that have traveled many of thousands of miles, gaining energy as they move across the Atlantic. An area off the coast just north of Lisbon has been designated as the "Pilot Zone," which will serve as a testing ground for ocean energy companies. Right now, this area remains lines drawn on a map, as the government has been stalling to allocate the necessary money due to an impending election. Portugal is an attractive market for marine energy developers and utilities because most of the population lives on the western coast of Portugal. Most importantly, where there are people, there are power lines. The infrastructure is easily accessible and devices can be grid connected with relative ease."

Friday, July 10, 2009 in Renewable Energy World

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